How to conquer your world

"Clarity" (2005). More images can be found in my bestselling book "Mosaic: Finding Your Own Voice". Get the book here.

Just for a moment forget all the reasons why something won't work and believe in the one reason why it will.

"Clarity" (above) is about inner growth. It's about finding belief in yourself when everyone else is saying that you can't do something. Case in point: when I began my art career in 2002 I was told by a family member that I couldn't sell my art. His words hurt me deeply. They also made me really mad because who was he to tell me what I could or could not do?!

As of this writing, every piece of art sold has been purchased directly from my own studio. Each sale is a reminder that I can, too, forge my own path. I am doing it.

Incidentally, "Clarity" is the first piece I ever sold, and the sale has an interesting backstory. As the story goes, my client walked into my then studio/gallery, asking if I could design and install glass shelving for her living room. (Find out what I made and hear about the design process here). A while later she came back with her mother, saying she wanted to buy either "Purity" or "Clarity", too. The interesting part of this story is that my client was proving to her mother that she could buy original art and create a beautiful home for herself. Apparently my client's mother had told her that she couldn't.

Just for a moment forget all the reasons why something won't work and believe in the one reason why it will.

Has anyone ever told you that you can't achieve your goals? Ignore them. Don't let anyone project their own limitations onto you. Never let anyone define you, either. No one else is the authority on your potential. Set your goals, aim high, and work towards them. Ignore the naysayers — especially if those naysayers are family! Do not accept their projections upon you.

You will make it. Heck, you are in the process of making it right now. Do not be deterred if you don't reach your goals overnight. While some degree of success might happen overnight, in all my research I have yet to find an example of sustainable, giant overnight success. Success, however you define it, is an accumulation of lots of baby steps. Accept that it will take time for you to grow into bigger success.

The trick is to dream first. Decide what you want. The next step is to make it a priority and take action. (Read more about that here.)

If you don't have a goal you'll probably go around in circles. That's okay. The process of going around and around a few times will help you gain clarity. Eventually you'll realize what you do NOT want. Once that happens, you'll start asking what you DO want.

That's when the magic begins.

As you gain clarity, modify your goal as you go and practice kaizen, which is the practice of continuous improvement.

By noticing what works and correcting for what doesn't, eventually you'll refine your goal as you start booking successes. Most importantly, you'll learn a lot about yourself along the way. This is how you break out of your old ways and conquer your world.

Just for a moment forget all the reasons why something won't work and believe in the one reason why it will.